Are you sure you are not zoomed when offline? Makes no sense as to how the game would go widescreen online but not offline. The game uses the same config file for both.
Do I understand you correctly that you get the long delay after exiting the "Video Settings", but you do not have either of the preload options checked? What type of delay? 30 to 40 seconds could be considered normal.
it doesn't even get done caching before AH shuts down with error meesage. no I am not zoomed in not sure why either, but I do know that it works fine when not in widescreen.
the delay is in minutes, to tell the truth I have not let it go until it finally resets itself because it is so long. I have let it go 2-3 minutes with no response and usually need to pull up task manager to even get pointer back on screen to shut AH down when exiting the "video settings" and it is only when exiting while setting is on widescreen. standard works fine.
this is on my laptop since my desktop is a standard screen. I use the laptop when at work. since I am talking about my laptop it will take longer to do most everything in game. This laptop always played offline flawlessly though and gave me fits online, weird thing here though is online now seems to play fine. will do more extensive testing of online later though (when at work)